The Party's Over Folks...

Oh Man!  I was so whipped after doing the surprise party last Thursday. Totally toast!  I think, though, the birthday girl (my children's principal) was very surprised. I don't think she even had an inkling of a thought about a party.  I will admit, here and now, the party was fantastic!  The decorations were way cool. We had an awesome 'balloon wall'. Very cool. We used fishing line to tie the balloons, so they looked like they were dancing in mid-air. And of course we had the tissue paper-toilet paper centerpieces! um...yeah. They totally rocked. And I tied 3 balloons to the centerpieces too--everything was dancing! I ♥ed it!!  The food was spectacular!! Here, just let me show you....

Okay, I know. ↑ The top picture is the same as the one in the previous post, but it's still the same. Just put a white tablecloth underneath it and Presto! you're at the party.

←yeah, totally take a look at those yummy treats.  Those divine little snacks are so AWESOME!  Its a slice of pepperoni, a tortellini and an olive on a skewer.  Lots and lots of skewers. The super ladies of the our PTSO board helped make up hundreds of the bad boys. So yum!  And over here           →

is one of the few pictures I have of the food tables...can you see how absolutely scumptious everything looks.  Look again...........that is one dang fabulous table of greatness.  And if you squint, you can sort of see the balloon wall and the table centerpieces on some of the tables. 

Don't get me wrong, that party was awesome to the Nth degree---but, man oh man was I exhausted afterwards.  Our PTSO ladies planned the party with 200+ people in mind.  I think it was a resounding success! I just don't want to plan a party that big again for a little while. (and I don't want the other ladies of the PTSO to be overlooked either!  They were the meatball makers and skewer-ers and balloon blowers and table movers, etc.  My friend Sara is very awesome for my brain & soul--I talk about stuff and she knows what I'm saying and has brilliant ideas. She was a mastermind!!) AND if she found my blog and reads it in quiet--then HA! I gotcha, Sara!!

I have another bloggy/school friend that did a whole big post on the surprise party--with pictures!  I think if you click here you can read her blog. (I hope that link-y business works and I didn't send you to a toothpick factory in China....)

I thought about changing my name and moving to Guam afterwards...but people already know who I am. And I couldn't think of a good alias either...

I'm going to try very hard this next week to finish up on some last minute winter crafts (really, just one) because I have a spectacular Valentines re-craft project I've just got to show you....xoxo

SSShhhhh...It's a Party!! Its a Craft!!

I'm very excited for this upcoming week.  I have a very double top secret hush-hush surprize party to help out with.  I'm excited for two reasons:  1) The food and decorations are going to be SWAG (super, wonderful, awesome, great) and 2) I'll be glad to be finished obsessing over it!!  I love the planning and organizing and details of planning stuff like this, but it comes with an OCD pricetag. I TOTALLY  overthink and over-analyze everything.  It keeps me up at night....BUT, it goes without saying that the crafting of the table centerpieces are the most fun!!!  They are my go-to centerpieces.  So easy, so clever, so cheap and so so cute.  Here it is:

Aren't you thinking "WOW!!" I'm intrigued...what is it? how did she do that? how can I make one?  Of course you're thinking that!  It's one of those things that when you see it explained, you automatically think "DUH!  I could do that!  That's just way too easy!"  And you couldn't be any more right. You can do this. AND....wait for it.....its an eco-recyclable craft!! Yeah, I'm green like that. :)

Here's the what for and the how to of it: 

 Go get:  3 different colors of tissue paper, curling ribbon, 1 roll of toiletpaper



Step 1:  lay one tissue paper flat on the table. Grab another color of tissue paper and lay it over the first--at an angle. Grab the last color of tissue paper over the 2nd--at an angle too.

←See my angles?  Try to offset the papers so that you have an oddly shaped star.  I try and only use 3 sheets of paper/colors. I don't have a special reason and certainly no scientific theories to back me up. I just like it with 3.  I've also done this centerpiece using the same colors--still using 3 sheets.

Step 2:  put your roll of toiletpaper in the center of the tissue papers. 

Step 3:  holding a length of curling ribbon in your mouth, use your hands to gather up the corners of the tissue paper. Gather and hold the papers at the top of the toilet paper. (I know, its a little bit of coordination and determination. It will work out for the cute--promise)

Step 4: use the ribbon to tie the gathered tissues at the top. Take a look at my first picture if you need to.

Okay, I stuck in a picture of me gathering the tissue around the top of the toilet paper...once all the sides are gathered, then tie it together with your ribbons.   this way...look over here→

Doesn't it just crack you up that the base of this happy centerpiece is a roll of toilet paper? I chuckle every time I go to make them.  I've made some for a big Spaghetti Dinner at the kids school; I've made them for a Preschool Party, a Baby Shower....they're fun. And when you're finished with your party you can use them in the potty!!! Bawahahaha!!

I can't wait to do this surprise party!  It's for a wonderful woman that encourages and inspires children everyday. Who better to have a party for?

An Unexpected Crafty Time

So, my dear mother hijacked me yesterday afternoon for an unexpected crafting session. She had been saying she needed help with a project for Christmas. She saw a "really cute" Christmas time at the dentist office. She went online and printed out the instructions. And everytime we were out shopping she'd say she needed garland and lights and hangers. What kind of tree was she talking about anyway? Well, yesterday was the day that all my questions would be answered. I'm just not sure what question I want answered first. I can tell you, I wasn't too too excited about...it didn't sound awesome in my head..

So, yeah...here's the crafty-ness in question.  Its a small table-top Christmas tree decoration made from wire hangers, pipe cleaners, a strand of lights and some garland. Okay, not some. About three packs of garland.  Because I couldn't really see the finished product in my head, I had a hard time 'liking' it. Usually I can picture what I want and work backwards--but with this one? Not so much.

But, my mom had all the stuff and I had the time. So, here's what we made after reading the instructions a bazillion times...I mean it. they sounded like I wrote them!! I must sound crazy in print!!

 

Here's a white tree we managed to finish.  It's actually not so bad after awhile.  It sort of reminds me of a snow-covered gumdrop tree. If one existed...I know they don't. Probably. Mostly.

   And this is a red/green tree. I know, you can't really tell. It's the camera angle and the lighting. But look how the lights shine. That's pretty--you know it...

I'm still not completely sold on the cuteness factor of these trees. But I do have the experience behind me and the knowledge to draw from should another idea pop into my mom's blonde little head. ♥

My Post-Christmas Craftings

Happy 2011!

I really hope everyone of you 3 great blog readers had a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday!  Our family spent a quiet Christmas together--very lovely. I've almost righted my house back in order...almost, but not quite. The new Christmas toys are still strewn about the house and the after-Christmas sale stuff is everywhere else. But I'm getting it done...

One of the quickest projects I've had (and to help me clear some space on my floor) are the two new wreaths for my front doors. I'm so on top of Christmas for 2011. And I owe it all to the wonderful sales at Target and Wal-Mart! ♥

So, let me show you my new pretty-ness....let me tell you, I had a blast at the after-Christmas sales at our Target and Wal-Mart!! Oh, I did!  I purchased the wreath, the bulbs and the glittery bow all for less than $10. AND I have enough extra glittery awesome-ness to make 4 more wreaths! As my theater friends say:  Simply Ah-maz-ing!!

Here's the how-to: Decide on the colors you want to use. Pick 3. Pick your favorites!  Plug in your glue gun and grab a diet Coke--promise, you'll need it.

  Watch your fingers and the glue--now  just have a happy time gluing the bulbs--totally at random. It makes it better to have no rhyme or reason.  I glued my bulbs to the bottom half the wreath because my bow had long tails (I did not know this until I got started!) Glue away!

Yeah, keep going, its fun....think about all the glitter on your face, clothes and floor later.....much later.

   

Here's the finished products!  Oh! They are happy wreaths, you betcha! I ♥ them! (which is all the better for me!) I showed my neighbor--hehe! she's so ticked that I'm ahead for next year. In fact, she's out at the stores looking for stuff to make her own wreaths RIGHT NOW! How funny is that? She cracks me up!!

I hope you had a nice moment reading today! I've got another super adork-able craft coming soon--maybe tomorrow if the kids leave me alone :) I'll give you a hint:  he's snowy....talk to ya soon ☺

xoxo